Title: Russia's geo-energy interests and secessionist conflicts in Central Asia: Karakalpakstan and Gorno-Badakhshan

Authors: José Antonio Peña-Ramos

Addresses: Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Av. Pedro de Valdivia 425, Providencia, Región Metropolitana, Chile; Universidad de Granada, Hospital Real, Cuesta del Hospicio, s/n, Granada-18071, Spain

Abstract: The break-up of the Soviet Union heralded a highly unstable decade of decline for Russia, while also generating numerous conflicts in the post-Soviet space. Russia regained influence at global and, chiefly, regional level from 2000, with the coming to power of Vladimir Putin and the rise in the price of hydrocarbons. Energy policy arguably played an essential role in this situation. Central Asia, the scenario of two secessionist conflicts at present, is crucial to Russian geo-energy interests. This article examines and discusses the impact of these conflicts on Russia's geo-energy interests, in particular since Putin came to power. Our conclusion is that, in a context of Russian dominance of the post-Soviet space and direct Russian intervention in secessionist conflicts in the South Caucasus and Eastern Europe in defence of its geo-energy interests, the two post-Soviet secessionist conflicts in Central Asia (Karakalpakstan and Gorno-Badakhshan) have greatly benefited Russian geo-energy interests. [Received: April 10, 2020; Accepted: July 14, 2020]

Keywords: secessionist conflicts; Central Asia; energy policy; hydrocarbons; geoenergy interests; Russia; Uzbekistan; Karakalpakstan; Tajikistan; Gorno-Badakhshan.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2021.116675

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2021 Vol.27 No.4, pp.399 - 423

Received: 10 Apr 2020
Accepted: 14 Jul 2020
Published online: 29 Jul 2021 *

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